Using The Surface Hub As a Whiteboard

Each classroom in the College of Business is equipped with a Surface Hub smart whiteboard*. These Hubs can be used as a touch screen monitor for the podium computer. When combined with the Whiteboard application, there are many benefits to using these over a traditional whiteboard, including:

  • Increased visibility for students.
  • Ability to save and share whiteboard notes.
  • More color options.
  • Ability to easily edit and rearrange whiteboard contents.
  • Infinite whiteboard space: simply zoom or scroll if you need more space.
  • Options for collaboration: invite others to join the whiteboard and participate.

*RH 139 is not currently equipped with a Surface Hub


There are two recommended ways to use the Hub as a whiteboard, depending on your preference:

  1. Microsoft Whiteboard application
  2. PowerPoint annotation feature

Using the Microsoft Whiteboard Application


Opening the Application

1. Log into the podium computer using your NetID credentials.


2. Double click the Microsoft Whiteboard icon on the desktop. This will open the application in your web browser. Alternatively, you can open a browser yourself and visit whiteboard.office.com.

Microsoft Whiteboard Shortcut Icon


3. Log into Whiteboard using NetID@colostate.edu as your username, then the password for your NetID. You may receive a DUO authentication push notification on your secondary device if this is your first time logging in on the computer.

Pop up using NetID credentials to login


4. To make your Whiteboard full screen and hide the task bar / browser address bar, press the F11 key on your keyboard.


Displaying a Whiteboard to the Audience

1. To show the audience your whiteboard, use the podium's touch screen to select the proper source. In this case, you will want to use one of the Instructor PC inputs (Left only, Right only, or Left and Right), depending on which screen you have your Whiteboard application opened on.

Selecting a podium PC input on the touch panel

BYOD devices such as a laptop, phone, or tablet may share their screen with the class, but the Surface Hub can only be used for touch input on the podium PC.


2. Once the screen with your whiteboard is displaying for your audience, you may move from the podium to the Surface Hub if you desire.


Using the Surface Hub for Touch Input

1. As long as you are using the podium PC and displaying one of its screens on the Surface Hub, you will have full touch input capabilities on the Hub.


2. If you wish to use the Hub's stylus pen instead of your fingers, you can find one located on either side of the Hub. Please be sure to return the stylus to its holder when you are finished.

Hand holding a stylus pen near the Surface Hub


Opening or Creating a Whiteboard

1. Once logged in, any previously opened whiteboards will appear. Select one to open it, or select New Whiteboard.

New Whiteboard button


2. When a new whiteboard is created you may select a template or select Start with blank canvas.

Start with blank canvas button


Drawing and Writing

1. If you are using the stylus pen, simply begin writing with the pen on the screen. Or if you are using your finger, from the menu at the bottom of the screen select the marker icon to open the Inking menu. Several preset markers appear. In order from left to right: black marker, red marker, galaxy marker, highlighter, laser pointer, eraser, ruler, lasso select.

Inkling menu options


2. Select one of the markers, then begin drawing with your finger or the stylus.

Drawing a squiggly line with a marker


3. To adjust a marker's settings, press the marker again in the menu. A menu appears giving you control over thickness, opacity, color, and other preferences.

Adjusting marker appearance settings


4. Once you have adjusted settings to your liking, begin drawing with your new marker.

Drawing a happy face with a modified marker color and thickness


Erasing

1. To erase, select the Eraser tool  from the Inking menu. Or use the backside of the stylus to erase by touching it to the screen.

2. Touch whatever part of the whiteboard you wish to erase.

Erasing a drawing


3. To erase an entire stroke, press the Eraser  again and select Erase entire stroke. Whichever stroke you touch will be erased entirely.

Using the erase entire stroke tool


4. If you wish to clear the entire canvas and start fresh, press the canvas with two fingers and select Clear canvas.

Clear canvas button


5. If you make a mistake, use the Undo or Redo buttons to the left of the menu to Undo your last action or Redo your last action.

Redo and Undo buttons


Panning and Zooming

1. To pan in any direction, select the Pan icon  from the menu.


2. Using your fingers or the stylus pen, press and drag in any direction to pan your view.


Animated gif of panning the whiteboard


3. To zoom out, with the Pan icon  still selected, use two fingers to make a pinching gesture on the screen. To zoom in, move two fingers apart from each other.

Animated gif of zooming in and out on the whiteboard


4. Alternatively, use the Zoom menu in the bottom right corner to use buttons (from left to right) to zoom out, select a preset, zoom in, or fit content to screen.

Zoom buttons menu


Selecting Strokes

1. From the Inking menu  select the Lasso select tool .


2. Draw a line around whatever you wish to select. Whatever is inside the blue area will be selected.

Animated gif selecting, and then resizing two shapes


3. Once selected, you can resize a selected segment by selecting and dragging the corners.


4. You may also delete an object by pressing the trash button .


5. To copy/paste an object, select it, then select the More options button  and select Copy or Duplicate. You may also Lock an object/drawing so that it cannot be moved.

Menu showing options to copy, duplicate, or lock the selection


Inserting Shapes, Objects, Images, and Interactive Components

You may insert several types of objects into your whiteboard: Notes , Reactions , Comments , Text , and shapes . Select any of these from the bottom menu to insert.


By pressing the More options button  you may also insert Templates, Images, Documents, Loops Components (like voting tables, checklists, progress trackers, etc.) Videos, Links, and more.

More options for inserting objects into the whiteboard



Changing the Background

1. Select the Settings menu  from the top right corner.


2. Select Format background .


3. Select background color and grid style.

Background formatting menu



Sharing the Whiteboard

1. Select the Share button  in the top right corner.


2. Enter a name, email address, or pre-existing group into the text box.


3. Select the pen icon to the right to choose whether the users can edit the whiteboard or just view it without making changes.

If allowing users to edit the whiteboard, they will be able to make changes to the whiteboard in real time, allowing for collaboration and interaction from the audience.


4. Alternatively, you may copy a link to the whiteboard and send it to a user / a group by pressing Copy link.


5. Press Send  to send an invite to any entered users.


6. To share the whiteboard as an image, select Settings  then Export , then select Image. Choose a resolution then press Export  to save the image to your computer.

 


Using the PowerPoint Annotate Feature


1. Open your PowerPoint file on the podium computer and begin presenting.


2. To show the audience your PowerPoint presentation, use the podium's touch screen to select the proper source. In this case, you will want to use one of the Instructor PC inputs (Left only, Right only, or Left and Right), depending on which screen you have your presentation displaying on.

If your notes are displaying on the wrong page, you may need to display the other PC screen, or in PowerPoint select Display Settings > Swap Presenter View and Slide Show.


BYOD devices such as a laptop, phone, or tablet may share their screen with the class, but the Surface Hub can only be used for touch input on the podium PC.


3. With your PowerPoint open, tap the slide on the Surface Hub touch screen. A small menu overlay should appear in the bottom left corner.


4. Select the Annotate button  from the menu that appears. From here you may select a Laser pointer, Pen, or highlighter, and also adjust the color of your pen.


5. Select Pen and begin to draw.


6. To erase, press the Annotate button  again and select either Erase or Erase All Ink on Slide to clear all annotations.


7. When exiting your presentation, you are given the option to either keep or discard any annotations you made.





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